Shloka 2

नारदप्रश्नवर्णन (Nāradapraśna-varṇana) — “Account of Nārada’s Inquiry”

Devanagari script

पृथिव्या अटनं कृत्वा शिवरूपाण्यनेकशः । ददर्श प्रीतितो विप्रा भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदानि सः

Transliteration

pṛthivyā aṭanaṃ kṛtvā śivarūpāṇyanekaśaḥ | dadarśa prītito viprā bhuktimuktipradāni saḥ

Translation

Nachdem er die Erde durchwandert hatte, o Brahmanen, schaute er voller Freude die vielen Erscheinungsformen Śivas—Gestalten, die sowohl Bhukti (weltliche Erfüllung) als auch Mukti (Befreiung) verleihen.

Word by Word

• पृथिव्याः: of the earth
• पृथिव्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अटनम्: roaming
• अटनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अटन (प्रातिपदिक; √अट् (धातु) से भाववाचक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेष-भाव (the act of roaming)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल

• शिव-रूपाणि: forms of Śiva
• शिव-रूपाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य रूपाणि)

• अनेकशः: many times/in many ways
• अनेकशः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/बहुत्ववाचक क्रियाविशेषण (in many ways/many times)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• प्रीतितः: joyfully/with affection
• प्रीतितः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) = प्रीतितः (with joy/affectionately)

• विप्राः: O brāhmaṇas
• विप्राः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा बहुवचन; श्रोतृ-सम्बोधन

• भुक्ति-मुक्ति-प्रदानि: granting enjoyment and liberation
• भुक्ति-मुक्ति-प्रदानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (भुक्तिः च मुक्तिः च) + तत्पुरुष-भावः (तयोः प्रदानि)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Generalized kṣetra theology: ‘many forms of Śiva’ across the earth that grant bhukti and mukti—an umbrella rationale later used to sacralize specific liṅga-sthalas.

Significance: Affirms the dual fruit doctrine: Śiva’s arcā/forms can grant both artha-kāma (bhukti) and mokṣa (mukti), with higher valuation implicitly on mukti.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches that Śiva’s compassionate manifestations are accessible in the world and can grant both righteous worldly well-being (bhukti) and final freedom (mukti), aligning devotion with liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By emphasizing “many forms of Śiva,” the verse supports saguṇa worship—Śiva revealed through approachable forms, including the Liṅga—through which grace is received for both life’s aims and ultimate release.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Undertake tīrtha-yātrā or temple-darśana with bhakti, and pair it with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to seek Śiva’s grace for purification leading to mukti.